We all are engaged in some work or other. We must certainly have experienced or come across in our working place the reality of competition, rivalry, jealousy and enmity in order to be successful. Everyone desires to be at the top. Giving up one's position and status for the other requires a great deal of humility and nobility. Today's Gospel presents John the Baptist's humility in acknowledging Jesus' greatness. John prepared the way for Jesus as a forerunner by inviting people to repent for their sins in order to welcome the Son of Man. As soon as Jesus began his ministry, John realized that his ministry had come to an end. Some of his disciples moved to Jesus but this did not perturb him. Rather it gave him joy and happiness. John happily held the second place as Jesus' herald, saying "He must increase but I must decrease." John, like the moon, gradually fades away allowing the brightness of Jesus, the Sun, to illumine the world.

To acknowledge the other person as better than myself, indeed demands self-denial and humility because I want to be in the limelight. But Christian charity requires that I acknowledge, appreciate and empower the other person's goodness, talents, and success without feeling jealous or discomfort.